United States v. Ronald Dale McGatha

EDWARD S. SMITH, Senior Circuit Judge:

Appellant, Ronald Dale McGatha, appeals from a United States District Court judgment which imposed a sentence of 16 years imprisonment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1), following a plea of guilty on a charge of possession of firearms by a felon under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The judgment of the District Court, based on its conclusion that 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1) is a sentence enhancement statute, is affirmed.

Issues

The principal question presented is one of first impression in this circuit: Whether 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1) creates a new federal offense or…